The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is an independent constitutional body established under the Constitution of India. It functions as the central recruiting agency for appointments to the All India Services and Central Civil Services Group 'A' and Group 'B'. The commission's origins trace back to the recommendations of the Lee Commission (1924), which led to the establishment of the Public Service Commission on October 1, 1926. It was later reconstituted as the Federal Public Service Commission by the Government of India Act 1935. After independence, its constitutional mandate was established on January 26, 1950.
The UPSC is established under Part XIV of the Constitution, specifically covering Articles 315 to 323. Article 315 provides for a Public Service Commission for the Union. Its functions, outlined in Article 320, include conducting examinations for the services of the Union and advising the President on matters like recruitment methods, promotions, and disciplinary cases. The Chairman and members of the commission are appointed by the President of India. The UPSC is mandated to recruit for the All India Services (like IAS, IPS, IFS), which are common to both the Union and the States, a concept enabled by Article 312. The advice provided by the UPSC to the government is generally advisory and not binding. Recent changes for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) 2026 include tightening eligibility rules, barring candidates appointed to the IAS or IFS from reappearing. The application process has also been updated with a four-stage online system and mandatory face authentication at the exam centre.